KEY POINTS:
A Bay of Plenty man charged over an alleged New Year's Day hoax call has given up his fight for name suppression.
An interim suppression order lapsed this week and Robert Harold Christopher Moyer can now be named as the 66-year-old who faces one charge of making a false statement, relating to an alleged hoax call to emergency services about a fatal shooting in Kutarere, 17km southwest of Opotiki, at 4.55am on New Year's Day. The call sparked an armed offenders squad callout, with armed police flown in by helicopter from Tauranga and Taupo. It was later discovered that no violent acts had taken place.
Earlier this month the Bay of Plenty District Health Board employee battled for hours to keep his name and occupation suppressed but when he appeared in Whakatane District Court yesterday he was more concerned with having his bail conditions relaxed so he could drink alcohol.
Judge Thomas Ingram refused to delete the alcohol clause saying that it was Moyer's alcohol consumption that had led to the alleged offending.
Sergeant Peter Rankin, prosecuting, said Moyer had bragged to police at the time that he had been drinking for several days and had asked for a breath test. When he was arrested, his breath alcohol level was more than 700 micrograms per litre of breath.
It is alleged that Moyer made two 111 calls on January 1. In the second call it is claimed he said he had been in an argument with his partner and had shot her, adding that her body was in the boot of the car outside.
He is also alleged to have told police that he had a number of firearms at the property and they should send their best men to get him.
All 111 calls to the police communications centre are recorded.
Moyer, who has yet to plead to the charge, will next appear in Whakatane District Court on February 4.
- NZPA
